Maharashtra govt is trying to cut 58 lakh Kunbi records, alleges Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday alleged that the Maharashtra government was trying to reduce the number of Kunbi caste certificates issued to eligible members of the Maratha community and demanded that certificates be issued based on the 58 lakh records identified earlier news agency PTI reportedJarange urged members of the Maratha community to intensify their efforts for their demands and raise their voice against what he described as injustice He also appealed to them not to come under pressure from any political party or individualJarange announces Marathwada Vidarbha visitReiterating his call for an agitation Jarange said he would visit Marathwada and parts of Vidarbha from August 20 to 25He has also announced an indefinite fast from August 29 seeking OBC quota benefits for eligible members of the Maratha communityThe agitation will take place for pending demands of the Maratha community The government should issue all the certificates based on the 58 lakh records found earlier The government wants to curtail this figure of 58 lakh but I will not let it happen he told reporters in Chhatrapati SambhajinagarJarange also demanded validation of the Kunbi caste certificates issued so farOther demands ahead of August 29 strikeJarange demanded government resolutions related to the Satara Kolhapur Aundh and Bombay gazettes withdrawal of cases registered against Maratha protesters and completion of government appointments for candidates selected under SEBC and EWS quotas before August 29He also sought the release of pending dues and completion of the process to provide government jobs to the kin of those who died during the Maratha quota agitationReimbursements through Annasaheb Patil Mahamandal and student scholarships should be settled by August 29 said JarangeHe further demanded that schemes halted through the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research Training and Human Development Institute SARTHI be restarted and adequate funds be allocated for themWe have presented all these demands to the government in writing No demand should remain pending by August 29 he saidAllegations over scrutiny of caste certificatesJarange also alleged that castevalidity certificates that had already been issued were being subjected to fresh scrutinyHe questioned whether the scrutiny was limited to Maratha caste certificates or whether certificates belonging to other communities were also being examinedThe Maratha quota activist alleged that Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil who heads the Maratha reservation subcommittee had initiated a fresh process to recheck the validity of certificatesJarange targets ruling party leadersHe accused ministers Sanjay Shirsat and Chandrashekhar Bawankule along with MP Sandipan Bhumre of working against the interests of the Maratha community and alleged that they were encouraging people to approach courtsJarange also criticised some members of the Maratha community who according to him were speaking against the community because of their political affiliationsHe said he had met scholars and reservation activists at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna on Sunday to discuss proposed changes to government orders concerning the communitys demandsJarange also alleged that there was growing anger among students businessmen farmers microOBC groups and AdivasisWith inputs from PTI